October 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Meeting Agenda
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CALL TO ORDER
Description:
Tom Buffett, Jason Burns, Katie Cavanaugh, Shulawn Doxie, Andrew Phelps, Leeni Shrestha and Jillian Winn
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WELCOME AND MEETING FORMAT (2 Min)
Description:
Welcome to this regular meeting of the Okemos Board of Education held in public for the purpose of conducting the business of the school board.
There are two opportunities for public comment: Citizens who wish to address agenda or non-agenda items will have an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting, as well as near the end of the meeting. In-person individuals who wish to address the board must complete a blue form, located with the agendas near the room entrance, and present it to the board’s secretary prior to the start of the agenda item. Virtual participants must submit their name and address in a message through the chat box located in Zoom’s meeting controls prior to the start of the agenda item. At the appropriate point in the agenda, the board president will call upon individuals who have submitted a blue card or chat message and that individual’s microphone will be un-muted for their comments. |
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Mission Minute/Around The Pack (5 Min)
Description:
An opportunity for individual board members to highlight events, activities, and other items of interest.
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PRESENTATION: Bond Construction Update (10 Min)
Description:
Representatives from Veridas, TowerPinkster and Christman will provide a construction update regarding the 2022 bond, including bid packages #3, 4, 8, energy savings and new High School athletics projects.
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DISCUSSION MOVED FORWARD: Kinawa Remediation Update (15 Min)
Description:
Operations Director Brian Lieber will provide an update regarding Kinawa remediation efforts, including budget, and timelines. The board will discuss approving the next phase of the project and its associated cost.
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Adequate Information to Proceed
Description:
Board policy 2503A Adequate Information to Proceed indicates that it is the policy of the board not to take action on an item the first time it is brought to the attention of the board at a public meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board waive policy 2503A requirements and take action on whether to approve phase two of the Kinawa remediation project.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Description:
At this time in the meeting, citizens have an opportunity to address the board regarding items of interest that that may or may not be part of the evening’s agenda. Citizens are required to limit comments to three minutes, except when this requirement is waived by the board president during the meeting. A designated timekeeper will communicate to the individual who is addressing the board at three minutes. The board highly values public comment and input; however, the board meeting format is designed to facilitate the evening’s agenda and, therefore, restricts board members from engaging in conversation with speakers or immediately responding to questions. Questions and concerns may be addressed by the board later in the agenda and may be assigned for follow-up by the board or superintendent at a later date.
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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (5 Min)
Description:
The high school student representative will highlight events and issues of interest and take questions from the board.
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SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
Description:
The superintendent will highlight events and issues of interest and take questions from the board.
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BOARD REPORTS/REQUESTS (10 Min)
Description:
The board will acknowledge receipt of correspondence.
Individual board members may request follow-up on other matters of concern. Board sub-committees may present their reports or deliver updates. |
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ACTION ITEMS
Description:
Within Action Items, there is a Consent Agenda to expedite the business of the board which groups a number of items together to be dealt with by one action of the board. However, items in the consent agenda may be extracted by individual board member request for further discussion or clarification.
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CONSENT AGENDA (5 Min)
Description:
In an effort to expedite the business of the board of education, but in no way meant to diminish the importance of each item, a Consent Agenda has been developed.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board approve items 1 through 5 for immediate implementation and appropriate action.
Item 1: Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 22, 2025;
Item 2: Approval of the Minutes of the Executive Session Meeting of September 22, 2025;
Item 3: Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of September 29, 2025;
Item 4: Approval of the Minutes of the Executive Session Meeting of September 29, 2025; and
Item 5: Acknowledge receipt of the September financial statement and approve payment of bills for September.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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OTHER ACTION ITEMS
Description:
The Other Action Items require additional discussion prior to board action.
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Audit Report
Description:
Each year, the board of education employs an auditing firm to audit the district’s financial records. Mr. Steve Piesko of Maner & Costerisan P.C. presented the 2024-2025 audit report to the board during its meeting on September 22, 2025.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board accept the audit report of Maner & Costerisan P.C. for the 2024-2025 school year.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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Issuance and Sale of Bonds Resolution
Description:
On November 8, 2022 voters approved the ability for Okemos Public Schools to borrow up to $275,000,000 by issuing general obligation unlimited tax bonds. The district will be issuing the bonds in four series over the next seven years.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board waive the reading and adopt the resolution authorizing the issuance and delegating the sale of the third series of Okemos Public Schools 2022 Bonds, approved by the voters at the November 8, 2022 election (Roll Call).Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
Attachments:
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Level 3 Individual Grievance Request
Description:
The board will determine whether or not to waive the Level 3 hearing for grievances that have been brought or will be brought in the future by individual bargaining unit members and the Okemos Education Association alleging a violation of Article 3 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the June 2024 Letter of Agreement. Grievance 01-25-26 will be heard on October 14, 2025.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board waive the individual grievance hearings.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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Kinawa Phase 2 Remediation
Description:
The board discussed the 2nd phase of the Kinawa remediation project earlier in the meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
That the board approve the 2nd phase of the Kinawa remediation project.Board Member #1Board Member #2Carried
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WORK SESSION: Strategic Planning - Monitoring Impact (60 Min)
Description:
The board will engage in a work session for the purpose of discussing data and timelines for monitoring the Strategic Plan. A data dashboard will also be presented.
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COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Description:
At this time in the meeting, citizens have an opportunity to address the board regarding any item(s) of interest. Individual comments at this time will be limited to three minutes but may be extended at the discretion of the board president. A designated timekeeper will communicate to the individual who is addressing the board at three minutes. The board highly values public comment; however, our meeting format does not allow the board to engage in conversation with speakers. Questions or concerns may be assigned for follow-up by the board or the administration at a later date.
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OTHER MATTERS (5 Min)
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ADJOURN
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